Mooreville graduates celebrate high school, look toward future

TUPELO – Mooreville High School’s 2013 graduating class was especially memorable for first-year principal Lee Bruce.
“I started Mooreville as a teacher and coach 13 years ago,” Bruce said. “If they stated Mooreville in kindergarten, their first day was my first day. We’ve had some move in and I’m just as proud of them and love them too.”
Bruce said the 102-student class is the largest to graduate from Mooreville.
Graduate Dylan Lewis said the class was especially close, making Saturday’s graduation at the BancorpSouth Arena special and hard.
“it’s really very bittersweet knowing that we won’t see each other every day but we’re ready to move on as well,” he said. “I’m going to take the friendships between the students and even the teachers who motivated us and the memories we made – I’ll take them with me the rest of my life.”
Salutatorian Kelton Reed Kingsley told the audience he was not much for public speaking, “I probably won’t look up during this speech and if I faint, just move me to the side and carry on,” he joked. He also encouraged his classmates to follow their hearts in everything they do.
Valedictorian Brantley King said he wanted his speech to be motivation for his classmates, telling them they can do anything they set their minds to.
For Kaycee Barnes, Saturday was a necessary experience before moving into the next stage.
“I guess graduation is the last time we’ll all see each other and we’re looking at each other and remembering all the things we’ve been through over the years,” Barnes said. “It’s closure to the high school years. Now it’s time to move on to what we’re doing next in our lives.”
Bruce said he will remember his first class as a very hardworking class.
“Our valedictorian race was extremely close,” he said. “We had four or five students who were neck and neck and over 20 students graduated with honors and special distinction. They’ve accomplished a lot.”
jb.clark@journalinc.com